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Crimson Color Code: HEX, RGB and HSL Values for Logo Work

Crimson is #DC143C, or RGB 220, 20, 60. See its HSL and HSV values, how to apply it in vector logo files, and why print values need a proof.

Published

Contents
  1. The short answer
  2. Crimson and "malinovy": not always the same color
  3. Using crimson in a vector logo
  4. Screen versus print
  5. When a brand's crimson differs from #DC143C
  6. What this article does not cover

The short answer

The standard crimson color code is #DC143C. This value comes from the named color "crimson" in the CSS color specification, which inherited it from the older X11 color list. Because it is a fixed web standard, every browser and most design tools render the keyword "crimson" as exactly this value.

Model | Value
HEX | #DC143C
RGB | 220, 20, 60
HSL | 348°, 83%, 47%
HSV / HSB | 348°, 91%, 86%
CSS keyword | crimson

The HSL and HSV figures are calculated from the RGB values and rounded to whole numbers. Some tools round differently, so a difference of one point is normal.

Crimson and "malinovy": not always the same color

Many readers search for this color using the Russian word малиновый, which literally means raspberry. Crimson is a common translation, but the two names do not have a single shared definition. Crimson is a deep red with a slight blue lean. Colors labelled raspberry often sit further toward pink or magenta. Color lists assign different values to raspberry, and none of them is a web standard.

If a brief or brand guide only says "crimson" or "malinovy" without a code, ask for the exact HEX or RGB value before building the palette. Treat #DC143C as the default only when the brief means the standard named color.

In vector artwork, crimson is normally applied as a fill or stroke on paths. In SVG and other web-based vector formats, the value can be written as the hex code, the RGB function or the keyword. All three produce the same color:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100">
  <circle cx="50" cy="50" r="40" fill="#DC143C"/>
</svg>

.logo-mark { fill: #DC143C; }
.logo-mark { fill: rgb(220, 20, 60); }
.logo-mark { fill: crimson; }

For maintainable artwork, define crimson once as a named swatch or a CSS custom property, then reference it throughout the file. You can then adjust the palette in one place instead of editing every shape.

Recoloring a logo only works on true vector shapes. A file can have a vector extension such as SVG, EPS, AI or PDF and still contain an embedded raster image or a flattened raster preview. In that case, changing the swatch will not change the visible artwork. Before you build a palette around a logo, check the paths with an outline or wireframe view to confirm the fills are editable.

Screen versus print

HEX and RGB values describe color on screens. Printing crimson needs a separate decision, either a CMYK process build or a spot ink.

  • A simple mathematical conversion of #DC143C gives roughly C0 M91 Y73 K14, but this ignores the press, the paper and the color profile, so it is only a starting point.
  • Printed results depend on the ICC profile, substrate and press. Get CMYK values from a color-managed conversion and confirm them with a physical proof.
  • Saturated reds like crimson can look duller in CMYK than on screen. Check this before you sign off a print palette.
  • The supplied material contains no confirmed spot-color (for example Pantone) equivalent for crimson. Choose one by comparing against a physical swatch guide rather than relying on a quoted match.

When a brand's crimson differs from #DC143C

Many brands describe their red as crimson but specify their own value. If you are working with an existing logo, the brand's guidelines decide the color, not the CSS keyword. Downloading a logo file does not by itself give permission to recolor it, alter its artwork or fonts, or use the trademark. Confirm those rights separately with the brand owner before you build derived palettes or modified versions.

What this article does not cover

No subject-specific evidence was supplied. That means no verified brand palettes, spot-color matches, profile-specific CMYK builds or measured print results. The values above come from the published CSS color definition and standard color-model math. Anything beyond that, including complementary or harmony colors for a crimson palette, should be generated and checked in your own color-managed workflow.